Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2015 - 2016
Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

In the near future, I will be introducing legislation that will name the bridge on State Highway 34 that connects the banks of the Juniata River in Newport, Perry County, as the Paul Reider Bridge.

In 1789, Paul Reider purchased a tract of land on the banks of the Juniata River from David English. Over time, Reider’s descendants founded the town of Reider’s Ferry at that point on the Juniata River, which was formally established in 1804 as the town of Reidersville. Today, that town is known as Newport.

The Reider’s Ferry Bridge Company, founded in 1838, constructed a covered bridge spanning the Juniata River connecting Newport to Howe Township. In 1934, the covered bridge was replaced with a steel bridge, which has remained unnamed. My legislation will name this bridge the Paul Reider Bridge to honor his legacy as we celebrate the 175th anniversary of Newport.